How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

What is a Buoypop 101

In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

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From Instagram

Buoypop! Must be all that good mojo from the party last week. We’ve got a few small flybys coming in the next week, I think we see another better storm around the 12th, and now the 15th. Looking out, I think we’re in a pretty active pattern across the pacific, storms stacked into about Nov 22nd. Lining up pretty well for some opening days. Let’s go super El Niño. Why would I deceive you? There is no reason for me to do that. #yeahbuoy

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Yeah buoy! Right on target for next week. There’s more behind it, I think we’re active up to about Nov 14 from what I can see right now. In other news, come join me tomorrow at the park city brewery for a fun night supporting the Utah Avalanche Center, doors @ 6pm, see you there. #yeahbuoy

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Here’s all that bouncing around. Looks like we are ramping up through the end of the month and into the beginning of November until about the 4th. There’s some more action on the Hawaiian horizon, with a big storm looking to hit Hawaii around the 30th. In other news, come help me support the Utah Avalanche center next week at the Park City Brewery. #yeahbuoy

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bike season for a few more days, then back to ski season on the 22nd/23rd, looks like the buoy is bouncing, so may be another storm on the 26th and then the 28th. Going for a ride and then watching some football. #utefanandanyoneplayingagainstbyu #yeahbuoy

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Who snuck out for some turns the last couple days? Amazing how many people found mid winter blower conditions out there 🙄.

Next fella on deck, not as sure fire as the last but right in the buoypop window.  Only one way to find out… #yeahbuoy

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Got gear, art, gift cards, or experiences to spare? Put them to good use.

We are collecting silent auction items for the 2026 Powder Buoy Powder Party - our fundraiser with the Utah Avalanche Center on Oct 28 at Park City Brewing. Every dollar raised supports avalanche forecasting and education in Utah.

DM @powderbuoy to donate an item. We will make it easy.

2026 Powder Buoy Powder Party - Oct 28 - 6-10 PM - Park City Brewing
Tickets via link in bio

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Not sure what to make of this, but putting it out into the universe. If it hits, would put a storm around the 22nd / 23rd. This incoming storm looks to be shaping up and may be enough for some base welds and blown out edges. Will Utah have the first ski pics or will it be the @silvertonmtn ski patrol like usual. Only one way to find out… #yeahbuoy

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BUOYPOP! Well… maybe not. Pretty sure that’s just the hurricane rolling through. 

There have been a LOT of hurricanes cruising around the Pacific this year, which has been kind of wild. East Pacific has already had 14 named storms, four above normal for this point, while Central Pacific ACE is running more than 300% above normal.

Both NOAA buoys have been offline for a bit, but one just jumped back into action. 

Meanwhile, ski stoke is finally starting to creep back in after some long summer days. The monsoon flow has been encouraging this summer, banger trail conditions the last few weeks. I don’t remember seeing much of a monsoon the last year or two, hopefully a sign of better things to come. 

But the buoy is alive, fall is getting closer, fired up for this season. 

#yeahbuoy

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Setting it out to the universe to have Super El Niño deliver the goods this year.A super El Niño is now the single most likely outcome for 2026–27 — 98% probability per IRI, subsurface temps running hotter than any event on record at this stage. The Wasatch sits right on the razor’s edge of the El Niño storm split. Could be another drought year, could be 1982–83 (amazing year). Only one way to find out…

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I’ve gotten a lot of messages in the last 24 hours about an article in the New York Times regarding the administration dismantling a weather buoy program. I am happy to say that the National  Buoy Data Center confirmed to me that the Hawaii buoys are not part of this shutdown and will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter

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Permit fishing is the perfect combination of hunting, patience, skill, and luck.
Earlier this year I heard about catching permit on a floating crab pattern — a dry fly for permit. The idea of one breaking the surface to eat seemed unreal… until it became reality.
15 mph NE winds, nervous water, a cast of 55-60 ft into the chop. A few seconds after the fly landed, a permit head breaks the surface and charges the crab. I stop stripping — the fish bumps it and turns away. I keep the slow strip going. One or two seconds later, a second head pops up. I look the fish in the eye. It takes the fly. We’re off to the races.
What most people don’t realize: permit mouths are on the underside of their head, so eating off the surface means the entire head and eyes breach the water. You’re essentially watching a permit porpoise on a dry fly.
Probably the coolest eat I’ve ever seen. So f’n rad. Chance of a pow day right before tax day. #yeahbuoy

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There’s a storm loomin out there in time for April fools/clown day. The plumes are all over the map but we’ll see. I think there could be a little more after this too like I said last time. All those crazy Kona low storms that are sadly flooding Hawaii. I’m going fishing 🎣 #palomettatime

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This is that next chance of now I mentioned a few weeks ago. Looks like there could be some more behind it around the 27, 28th, April 1, 3 , and 8th. I’m secretly hoping for a tax day pow day to keep that tradition alive too. With it being 70 this week, I don’t think most resorts will even make it this far, but I’m just calling em like I see em. No idea if this is going to be snow or rain, that’s been the name of the game all year. I try my best to stay stoked but at this point I’ve got permit fishing on my mind…

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This is the next potential shot for a storm around the 24th and then another one looks to be on deck for the 28th, slim pickins out there

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